This is actually a surprise for @infinite-atmosphere ;) Enjoy dearest.Ā
{Warnings: Mentioned sexual content, sad shit}
If there was one thing Akande remembered more vividly than anything in his life, it was the color of cherry blossoms in spring. Soft, fathomless pink petals that floated on a simple breeze and filled the air with a unique fragrance.
He remembers his toes in the koi pond near the edge of the Shimada property, Hanzo beside him. The breeze drifted easy, smooth and took the petals and limbs with it. Multiple shades of pink floated past them, Akande plucked a full bud from the air.
He turned to Hanzo, who was staring at the koi, bright oranges and whites and deep blacks circling their feet.
āHanzo.ā Akande muttered.
That sharp, beautiful face turned to him, eyes narrowed in worry. Rightfully so, as they were fresh out of a meeting neither of them expected to have.
āI do not know if I am capable of being a husband that would be worthy of you.ā Hanzo frowns, wrinkling his forehead.
Akande hums, āYou will do fine.ā
Hanzoās frown deeps and his eyes are imploring as he meets Akandeās gaze, āI would not love you.ā
Akande laughed, deep and full, and tucked the cherry blossom behind Hanzoās ear. It was bright, beautiful against the mass of black.
āYou will learn to love me.ā
Hanzo is not like the willing men and women Akande could have at his side. They are ready and willing to settle their hand on his arm and walk at his side.
He is frightening, bold, and strikes fear in the hearts of men his own father could not control.
It is exhilarating to see such power in a man so small. Akande is infatuated before he can think better of it. He brushes his fingertips down Hanzoās arms, secret touches that would mean nothing to an outsider, but mean everything to Akande.
Hanzo takes notice, softly tries to talk him down, āI am not interested in-.ā He looks to be fighting for words, face torn and bottom lip caught between his teeth, āI told you I could not.ā
Disappointment is not something Akande is used to. Ā
He takes it in stride, however, and allows Hanzo his space.
āYou could at least act like you are married to him.ā
Akande slips out of sight, searching for a way to avoid the conversation between Hanzo and his younger brother.
āIt is not-.ā Hanzoās sigh is deep, exhausted, āIt is not that I do not like him.ā
āAh.ā Genjiās voice has a realization in it.
Akande should leave, he has no business listening in on a private conversation-
āIt is that you like him too much.ā
Akande treads lightly. Smiles a little more, keeps his hands to himself.
Hanzo begins to smile back and they are breathtaking in intensity. A sucker punch to his gut when presented his way.
They begin to sync perfectly, wielding their combined intelligence and power like a perfectly honed blade. Akande concludes that there is no greater high than working at Hanzoās side. No enemy they could ever face would be able to tear them down.
Just enough for Hanzoās casual brushes to mirror Akandeās earlier ones. His fingers are small, but his hands are strong. With the way he wields a bow, it is no surprise.
He finds out just how strong weeks later.
A deal nearly goes south and Hanzo is furious, but it is contained. Only Akande can spot the seething anger boiling under Hanzoās careful facade. That fury is intoxicating, enticing.
He shoves Hanzo up against a wall when they return to the Shimada complex. Hanzo shoves back, teeth bared and hair loose around his face. Akande pins him, takes him right there in the hall where anyone could see them.
Hanzoās breathing is labored, voice pleading and grip strong, so strong around Akandeās wrist as it barely holds him up.
Everything changes after that.
Touches become bold, kisses furious and secret. Hanzo tastes like a summer storm and every time their lips meet, electricity rolls down his spine. Akande can feel the dragons moving under Hanzoās skin when they fuck, barely contained power in such a small package.
Akande can not see himself with anyone else.
Hanzo is older now. His bow is bigger, his stance firm and his gaze strong.
Akande offers him his hand, a place at his side in Talon. They could be together again and tear the world down, just the two of them. Burn it until it is ash and then rise up from it, stronger, better.
Hanzo stares at him and there is something new in that gaze.
He is still hard lines and haughty air, but there is a softness to his gaze, a new-
Akandeās throat seizes, but he swallows it back down. His chest blooms with pain, sharp and potent. He fights it, heart pounding as he waits for an answer.
āNo.ā Hanzo whispers, āI will find my own path.ā
He turns on his heel and Akande watches him leave.
His chest lurches, throat tickling and he coughs, violent and sudden into his hand. He is afraid to look in his palm. Terror is a stranger to him, but this is worse than terror.
He coughs again, this time it is agonizing.
Akande pulls away and faces the truth.
His laugh is low, anguished.
Of course they would be cherry blossoms.